“You make a good point,” I say, nodding. “I’ll fill out the forms. I will probably give it all away to a good cause… We’ll see.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Drake’s shoulders relax. “There’s another reason I’m here.”
My stomach tightens. “I don’t want to talk about Grim. I said all I needed to say directly to him. If he wants to talk to me, he can come and see me.”
Drake’s eyes widen in surprise. “Actually, Grim is insisting that you get his share of the money. I’m here to inform you of that.”
“What?” I choke out a laugh. “That’s insane. I don’t want it.”
“I told him you would say that.” Drake shakes his head. “I had to check for myself. I might need you to sign a form to that effect.”
“I will, no problem.” I start to stand, eager to end this conversation. “If that’s all, it was nice seeing you. I promise I’ll fill in those forms. I’ll do it tonight.”
“Another one wanting to get rid of me.” Drake laughs, standing as well. “Grim practically threw me out of his house the other day. He very nearly kicked my ass just for being there.”
I don’t say anything. I meant what I said. I don’t want to talk about Grim. I want to forget all about him.
Fat chance of that.
“He’s not a bad male, you know,” he says, his voice gentler now. “He shouldn’t have lied to you, but he isn’t bad. In fact, there isn’t a bad bone in his body.”
“No, he shouldn’t have lied,” I say flatly.
“He’s making excuses as to why he wasn’t open with you.”
“Drake, I—”
“Let me finish, please.” He holds up a hand. “Then I’m out of your hair, I swear.”
I nod, crossing my arms again.
“He’s actually one of the most big-hearted people I know,” Drake continues. “He won’t admit it, but he is.”
“I know,” I say, and I mean it. “It doesn’t change things. It doesn’t change what he did.”
“He should never have mind-bonded you, Wren.”
“He should have told me what was going on. It—”
“Yes, he should have told you,” Drake interrupts. “But in the end, he never should have mind-bonded with you becauseyoubreaking that bond is going to cost him so much.”
“I didn’t break anything.” Anger flares in my chest. “Don’t put this on me, Drake. I was in the dark. I was given a split second to decide whether to mind-bond or not. He told me hewould be fine. I asked him afterward, and he said that it was nothing. That it meant nothing. That he would be absolutely fine without me.”
“He lied.”
“Big fucking surprise,” I grind out.
“He lied to protect himself. He lied to protectyou.” His expression is serious now, almost grave. “In so doing, he sacrificed himself for you.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, my voice rising.
“He might not survive another mind-bond break.” Drake shrugs. “In fact, he probably won’t. I can see all the classic signs. He’s in trouble.”
My heart stutters in my chest. “Is Grim going to die?” My voice breaks, and a lump lodges itself in my throat. I clear it, trying hard to keep my composure. “Do I need to stay on Draig Island? Be near him? See his dragon on weekends? What?”
“He isn’t going to die,” Drake tells me, and I clutch my chest, sighing with relief. “And you don’t have to see him on weekends,” he adds.
“Why did you scare the crap out of me then?” I demand, angry now. “What was all this ‘he’s sacrificed himself’ bullshit?”
